Apr. 12, 2014

Sheryl Daniels (left) of Roseville hugs her cousin Starr Utash during a vigil at Little Rock Baptist Church in Detroit on Thursday. Steve Utash, of Rosevulle, was beaten by a group of people after checking on a child he hit with his truck. / Detroit. Ryan Garza / Detroit Free Press

Written by

Shirley Stancato

Detroit Free Press guest writer

Shirley Stancato

“Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things.” — Henry Ward Beecher

The words of the famed 19th-Century clergyman could very well be reflected in events that have been unfolding in Detroit in recent days.

We all reacted in shock and horror at the news that Steven Utash, a tree trimmer from Clinton Township, had been severely beaten on Detroit’s east side after his truck accidentally struck and injured a young boy who had stepped into the street. Utash is white. The boy is black. When Utash stopped and came back to see whether the young man was hurt, he was set upon and beaten by a group of black men.

The news media understandably jumped on the story. It seemed like the kind of event that could tear this city and this region apart.

But that hasn’t happened.

As the story unfolded, it was learned that a retired nurse from the neighborhood, Deborah Hughes, came to Utash’s aid, chased off his attackers and probably saved his life. Hughes is African American. She showed tremendous courage in single-handedly stopping the attack.

A coalition of religious leaders from throughout the region came together to organize a nondenominational prayer service for “a night of healing” at Little Rock Baptist Church, including members of the victim’s family and the nurse who rescued him.

The system is working in the aftermath of the incident. Police have suspects in custody as they continue their investigation. Charges have been filed.

The mood in the city and region, rather than being one of escalating anger and recrimination, has turned to one of concern and reflection about what happened and a focus on moving beyond and reaching out to one another.

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So, an event that at its beginning seemed to show just how racially divided the Detroit region is now is turning into a catalyst to promote racial healing.

The challenge before us to keep that momentum going.

If we are going to move to a new level of understanding and of working together toward a common goal in this city and region, we’re going to have to truly interact with all people. We have to exchange views and truly listen to one another. Talking is important, but it has to go beyond that. If we can take that step, if we come to a new level of mutual awareness and understanding, we can move forward as a city and a region.

The challenge for all people of good will is to keep that process going, to continue to reach out to others to build bridges of understanding, no matter what our surface differences might be.

If we can continue to do that, then what happened on Detroit’s east side more than a week ago could truly be an example of a terrible thing that became a tool by which God has fashioned us “for better things.”